Roger Aubrey

My Savior Lives

Come back and finish what you started

I was reading the story in John chapter 5, where Jesus healed the man who had been crippled for 38 years. This man couldn't get into the water fast enough when it was stirred. Jesus' question to him seems a strange one: 'Do you want to get healed?' You'd think that was obvious; but Jesus never takes anything for granted. The man needed to say what was in his heart. Accordingly, Jesus healed him and then slipped away in the crowd. 

But Jesus wasn't finished with this man. Later on he tracked him down and warned him to stop sinning so that something worse didn't happen to him. Jesus didn't intend for the man to only be well in his body; he wanted him to be well in spirit and soul. This man had issues in his life and he had to get right with God.

Jesus always finishes what he starts in you. He never leaves a job half done; he is not satisfied with incompletion. This principle works in every area of life. If we give up on ourselves he never will. If we think that we can partly obey, thinking that will satisfy him, we are in for a rude awakening. Jesus only sees us as the finished article and works in us to achieve it. He will not settle for anything less. Depending on the condition of your heart that will be a blessing or an unwelcome piece of news. Whatever, he will finish what he starts.

The trouble with integrity

They tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was neither corrupt nor negligent. (Daniel 6:4)

Integrity is a largely devalued currency in today's world. Then again, it wasn't highly valued in Daniel's day. In fact, his enemies used his proven integrity to try and bring him down. All their machinations almost worked, except for one major aspect: they failed to realise that in the long run God will justify the man or woman of integrity. All Daniel did was to hold on to that integrity and continue living his life, even though he knew he was in danger. He didn't even argue his case to justify himself; he had to live with his conscience. And that would not allow him to compromise what he knew to be right. 

The need today is for men and women of integrity: in business, in government, in the church, especially the church. We have the opportunity of a lifetime right now. The world has lost confidence in its leaders, both in the political and business spheres. Even in the USA, party politics are in full swing again, where President Obama is already - wrongly - being branded a Marxist by his enemies. His honeymoon is over.

Now is the time for Christian leaders of the calibre of Billy Graham to come to prominence. Men and women who may not be universally loved but who command respect because they not only practise what they preach, they preach what they practise. Not everybody loved Jesus; many loathed him. But they could never pin anything on him, not because they couldn't unearth the hidden scandal, but because there was only integrity there. 

Jesus' integrity got him into trouble, a show trial and an unjust execution. But he died in integrity; and because of that God the Father raised him from the dead. Jesus is the real deal. So should his followers be.

Davy Spillane: Midnight Walker

Nice piece of music from Davy Spillane to end the week:

Too good to be true?

I was listening to the news earlier today; a piece came on about the Texan financier Alan Stanford and current investigations into his business dealings. The American authorities are looking for Mr Stanford to serve papers on him. He is suspected of promising clients unrealistic returns on their investments, although no charges have yet been made. One of the commentators on the case said, 'It's another case of, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is'. 

I thought about that: in the natural it is true, but not always. But when it comes to God, that statement certainly holds no water. Everything God says about himself, every promise he makes, everything he says about you - they may sound to good to be true. But they are true, because God is true and God is good! That's the fantastic reality of God. When I read some of the things he gets up to in the Bible (I was reading about the three men in the fire this morning), it astounds me. Then I realise those men not only survived the fire, there was no burn on their skin, their clothes were not singed; they didn't even smell of smoke! Jesus was waiting for them in the fire and walked around with them. And they didn't try to escape: the king had to call them out. They were quite happy in there because they were with Jesus.

And he's the same God today for you and me. That's true, whether you're walking through the fire of pressure or having a nice cup of coffee. Too good to be true? No: true because God is good.

Thought for the day

Unbelief not only says the impossible is impossible; it says the possible is impossible.

The end is nigh?

He must remain in heaven until the restoration of all things spoken by the prophets. (Acts 3:21)

I woke up this morning thinking of the end of the world. I know it's Monday, but that is not the reason why I thought of such a thing; in fact, there was no overwhelming reason at all. I just thought about it. 

As I thought this verse came to me again; it's a verse that guides my life, my theology and doctrine; and is the focus of what I do. One day this world will end, but it will not be through global warming, environmental meltdown or nuclear disaster. Now let me say quickly that Christians should be concerned about the environment and have an idea on ecology and political matters. Too many believers live in ignorance of the world we live in and the issues facing it.

But the end will come when God says so; and the end will come when all things spoken by the prophets are restored. Integral to this restoration is the condition of the church, because the church has yet to be restored to God's original intention for it, not merely trying to replicate or return to the church of Acts 2. The church that Jesus will return for is not ready to receive him yet; but once it is ready - restored to what God always had in mind for it - the heavens will open and he will come again in glory.

That's why I thought about the end of the world this morning.  

Thought for the day

Man is made so that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish. (Jean La Fontaine)

Promises and Warnings

Just as every good promise of the LORD your God has come true, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened....if you violate the covenant... (Joshua 23:15-16)

God's word is his word. Every promise he makes is fulfilled; and every unheeded warning is also fulfilled. God's word is not divided between promises and warnings; we can't opt to claim the promises but ignore the warnings. God's word doesn't work that way. Both his promises and his warnings are equally powerful and faithful. Both will be fulfilled. He is the God who speaks and acts.

A new blogger

It's not very often these days that I get to welcome a new blogger to the scene. So today I'm pleased to announce a new one: it's by James Aubrey. (Well if you can't promote your family, who can you promote?)

Check out James' site here.